At the Mattahunt Elementary School, located in the heart of Boston’s Mattapan neighborhood, the Toussaint L’Ouverture Dual Language Academy, named after the leader of the Haitian Revolution, is bringing empowerment and pride in Haitian culture to its students.
Priscilla Joseph, a founding teacher of the academy, said it was created to help meet the needs of the Creole-speaking population in Boston. “Boston Public Schools and many community partners felt that the Mattahunt would be the best location, especially in Mattapan, which has a high Haitian population,” she explained to NBC News.
Started in 2017, the Haitian Creole dual language program is the first of its kind to blend elements of bilingualism and biliteracy, creating learning experiences that connect with students. The school implements both English and Creole in all subjects including Language Arts, Math, Science and Social Studies. For example, students learn the Haitian alphabet, explore Haitian folklore and study stories relating to Haitian culture. This fosters a connection to their heritage and identity while building on their language skills.
Joseph, who is also a Haitian American, drew inspiration from her past experiences to help in the classroom. Explaining, “I also grew up in a place where it wasn’t OK to say that you were Haitian, and there was a lot of discrimination against Haitian people,” she said. “So I kind of took my own experiences and entered that into the classroom, knowing how it feels to be a little bit different, or a little bit outcasted, because of your culture.”
Not only does the school assist in the needs of the students but also extends a helping hand to the parents. Many of the children who attend the school have parents who don’t speak English, as such the academy has staff trained to assist parents be active in their child’s education. As a result, the test scores of students enrolled have increased.
Haitian students in Boston are learning to take pride in their heritage. The mission of the academy is to dismantle stereotypes and maintain Haiti’s legacy and culture across its diaspora.
“We’re just prepping them for when they take over,” stated Mattahunt’s principal, Walter Henderson. “And we try to make sure that they understand that Haiti is a powerful nation.”
Photo Credit: Boston Public Schools
